Interview with Zab Judah... Says some very responsible things (Old interview)

http://www.everlastboxing.com/articl...interview.html


EVERLAST: When was your first street fight?
ZAB: I really don't remember. I was in a lot of street fights growing up. I mean I started fighting when I was 6 years old so when I got older I knew what I was doing.

E: What happened in your first street fight?
Z: (Laughs) I mean, come on.

E: What does it mean to you to be with Everlast?
Z: Everlast is the greatest boxing brand in the world. So much history, so much character. Muhammad Ali wore Everlast. That says enough. I want to wear what The Champ wears. He was the No. 1 Champ and I'm the No. 2.

E: What does being from Brooklyn mean to you?
Z: It's a great accomplishment to come out of Brooklyn. It's definitely the roughest and toughest place. It is a lot of who I am today.

E: Why do you think good fighters come out of Brooklyn?
Z: I don't want to say it's because of the poverty because there is poverty everywhere. I would just say the whole New York ghetto life is very unique. There is a whole city of opportunity right across the bridge [from Brooklyn] and people are hungry to move up. People are hungry in Brooklyn and hunger makes good fighters.

E: What does it mean to you when strangers come up to you in Brooklyn just to meet you?
Z: It's a great accomplishment. It's great that people know me now. On the other hand, it's kind of scary sometimes. You don't know what people want from you. Also, you always ask yourself, "Why are people looking at me? Oh, I forgot I'm Zab Judah." It's definitely something you can never get used to.

E: What does it mean to you to be a father?
Z: Every day I see my daughter it's beautful. We do everything together - play, hang out. It's great. She watches my fights and when you ask her "who beat your daddy," she says "nobody."

E: How has having money changed your life?
Z: I grew up with the Bible and I learned money is an asset to help. You should never lust for money. You should use it as an outlet. If I didn't have the money I'd be OK.

E: What's the first thing you bought with your first big paycheck?
Z: I'm a good saver, so when I started making millions I never went crazy with it.

E: Who are your most famous friends?
Z: I've met everyone that I ever wanted to meet. I'm boys with Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Eddie Murphy, Muhammad Ali. But my favorite celebrity is my wife.

E: What's your favorite punch?
Z: The uppercut. It's the most vicious. It can do a lot of harm to a person.

E: What's your routine on fight day?
Z: I'm the hypest person in America on fight day. I usually wake up around 5 a.m. and fight myself to try and get back to sleep. I'm so excited. I always have a great breakfast. I listen to a lot of hip-hop. No R&B * I'm not trying to go to sleep. I really don't do anything out of the normal because I train so well, I'm always so well prepared.

E: Who gave you the name "Super"?
Z: I used to call myself "Lightning Judah" but my dad made me drop that name because he said everything I do is super.

E: Who are your boxing idols?
Z: Pernell Whitaker, Ali, Mike Tyson, Marvin Hagler.

E: Where do you keep your belts?
Z: When I started my career, before I had the belts, I got a custom-made china closet for them because I always knew it was going to be filled one day.

E: How often do you get them shined?
Z: Never. I keep them exactly how they were when they put them on me.

E: We heard you sparred with Iron Mike. What was that like?
Z: Yeah, we were playing around. I hit him, he hit me back and I quit.

E: What was it like fighting Micky Ward?
Z: One of my toughest fights ever. He's very clever and very smart in the ring. He's a tough guy through and through.

E: You have the belts and the money. What keeps you hungry?
Z: The opportunity to beat a guy like Oscar De La Hoya. I hope it will happen soon. It's a good possibilty. Maybe November or December.

E: Why do you train at Gleason's?
Z: I love it there. I don't like new gyms. A gym has to be rugged, smell like a gym, feel like a gym. It builds good fighters for a reason. It's awesome to know people are trying to fight like me, watching me hit the bags.